S.C.O.R.N.

Because of my brothers wife

the story told to him of how S.C.O.R.N., this place, had began. A.R. Jackson had

explained it’s beginnings to him in a long drawn out story. A.R. said it started back in the 1950’s,

Remembering the now faint memory, he’d requested the whole story. Thinking it would kill

some time, being as I wasn’t going anywhere being shackled by steel restraints to this bed.

(and so the story began)

This place where he now stood, in the middle of a vehicle parking lot, almost a full mile under

the city of Denver, Colorado and it had all started out on a fluke. A gold miner, by the name of

Ken Jackson, was raised well and grew up with a decently good job extracting A G. or Gold ore

at a area with a twenty minute ride to the west. He’d worked hard and his house and land was

bought and paid for outright. He became the pride of his whole family. And so, he’d began to

build his own family, way before Denver had ever became a huge city that you see today. Crime

had moved in to all the bigger cities about that time, though crime always happened to the other

guy. Ken had never saw any real crime in this town, the streets always seemed very safe and he

had his job to keep him busy. Four years into a fantastic marriage, the young teenagers of the

town had become consorted with the larger gang members setting up shop in the project areas of

town, mainly preying on each other as turf struggles demanded more income for drugs and guns.

Slowly over time, they had moved into the heart of the city, stalking easy prey.

Ken's wife Delta and their three year old daughter June in the stroller had been walking

home from the local corner store. Delta had not even noticed the two weird men following them
less then a half block back. Placing the baby in the house, she went outside to retrieve the

groceries and the stroller. She had barely noticed them on the far street corner and entered the

house as they had evil eyed the little house and the pretty black woman. The groceries placed

away and her daughter June placed down for a nap, she had left the window open in her room so

the midmorning breeze could comfort June in her nap. Closing the door, but leaving it open a

crack, she went on about her morning routine.

Quietly they entered the same window as June was about to alert mommy as a strangle

hold quietly killed June. The other two, slowly made there way into the small two bedroom

house. It was quite by surprise that Delta had suddenly seen the two. With lust in their eyes and a

lunge to retreat, she was quickly over come.

“Please, take anything you want, Please, please just don’t hurt my baby.”

“You looking good mama,” Stated the man who now held here with a knife to her throat.

“Umm, yes, she does.” The other got close enough to smell the heat of fear rising off her body,

and licked her neck.

“Don’t hurt my baby!” She pleaded as he backed up from her and show the most evil grin she

ever witnessed.

“Too late…” He stated, as she was about to scream for her very life. With a heavy punch to the

side of her head. Everything went black.

She came awake only once, she was being handled roughly as she realized she was nude

and that she was being violated! Her entire body hurt as she tried to collect enough cognitive

thinking to make an assessment of how badly she was hurt. There were now three people all over

her, she had stinging on her arms and as she looked down, they were long lines of cuts into her

flesh! Blood seeped the whole length of these. Then, the pain of a thrust from one of the men
careened into her skull, a pain she could not quell. A vocal scream had begun to erupt from her

throat as another slice from a knife slid quickly across her throat. She realized in one of her last

thoughts, she was dying as the sound she was trying to make had quickly been silenced.

“Aw, why’d you do that? I wasn’t done!” One man spoke to the other.

“Bitch was trying to scream again!”

“Damn. Well, (looking down at her still body) this bitch is done. I’m not screwing no dead

body.” He watched her body as the blood soaked the floor. They all backed off her.

“Stupid ass, could of just put your hand over her mouth!” The third one offered.

“Sorry,” The man said looking down at the puddle of red blood that flowed under her head.

“You. Go check the house for money. Look around for anything worth taking, we’re out of

here in five minutes. It was a total of two diamond rings, and maybe three hundred in cash and

few almost worthless bonds.

Went Ken returned home that evening, he screamed so loudly in defiance of what he saw.

It was actually the family next store who came over and found him, crying at the foot of his wife

and holding his daughters lifeless body in his arms. It was so tragic, no one wanted to go near the

house.

The police had actually knew who had done it, but in court, because of lawyer tactics it

lagged it out for almost four years, due to racial laws just enacted. The racial tensions had just

started to surface in America, and this just helped to kick the case that much farther down the

list. After years of stone walling and getting nothing in the way of closure, it had somehow killed

Ken Jackson inside.

Yes, he was a color of African descent himself. The courts at this time had made little

effort to seek the closure he constantly requested of them. One of the three suspects had died in a
drug deal. Another had left the country. The third had gone underground and blended into dark

side.

Back as was the ways of those times, racialism was the normal bias. This loss of family

and self worth tore through his own family, and well past a point of solitude his family dissolved

into the world of people. The death’s had changed him and was to great for his heart to bear. In

an inward anger, he began to dig a small hole in his own back yard. He dug hard and long to rid

himself of this anger. He dug, day after day, month after month, year after year. It was almost

two years after he'd given up his job and three years after, his friends seemed to walk away. By

year five, no one even cared about who he was or what he was doing.

It was all the mineral rich dirt that he was giving away which finally got someone's

attention. Twenty pick-up trucks had been lining his street daily. The quartz mineral filled dirt

and rocks he was displacing was also extremely rich in gold as well as other rare metals. People

stood at his door every morning offering prices for loads to be picked up, some weeks in

advance. Then, one day the city council had stepped in.

They refused to allow anyone to haul off anymore of his large piles until they figured out

just where it had been dug from. That was unless he allowed them to excavate the site he had

been digging out. Officially they stated that it was to ensure it was safe. But rumors abound that

he was surely building tunnels under their town. This inspection would be to clear up the fact

that he wasn't mining the area underneath there houses. It wasn’t a money thing, they just wanted

to make sure he wasn’t building tunnels to the bank, it was all just a political towns concern.

It was from them who had the concerns, that gave him the idea. He was about a good one

half of a mile down a skinny six foot round tunnel with added on wielded ladders made of rebar.

There was a five gallon pail that was rigged to dump twenty foot away from the hole. The
official ruling had well ruled out it was not a tunnel for mining and it wasn’t being dug in any

horizontal direction as they witnessed three or four ‘gold veins’ had just been hacked through as

if to by-pass them altogether. At that, someone suggested that he needed to see a shrink, but

nothing ever came of that. The survey done, scratching there heads, they couldn’t find a reason.

Once again, he was given the go ahead and could have the debris removed and was able to refine

it or sell the ore, and precious minerals within the dirt. However, even though he thought he ‘d

get rid of the debris quicker, he could not just give it away. He had to charge a price for it, a

hundred dollars a truck load. Which was surprisingly a lot. But just about the word got out,

trucks started lining up every morning, hoping to catch a truck load or two that day.

After that, the city officials just kind of ignored him altogether. They never had found his

wife’s killer, the case stayed open for years. Most of the police had moved on as did the city

council. He had to get a vendor permit to sell his mineral byproducts, but soon, no one but the

crowd of people wanting to buy his rocks and dirt ever bothered to show up at his door.

He still actually made quite a bit of money off the rocks and dirt that he had tried to pile

in his back yard. And again, every wheel barrow full of dirt would disappear. Though, nearly

four years later, things had begun to change. The piles had stopped and the pick up truck’s would

often just drive by hoping for a pile to appear. Then about once a month, a truck would drop off a

trailer full of empty 55 gallon barrels, and slowly they would return full to the yard, loaded onto

the trailer and the process would repeat. Then, something happened, there was no activity.

It remained this way for about a year, people thought he’d gone to jail, or a vacation. But

the land taxes were kept current, and the yard and house maintenance only got done by city

threat. Yet, Ken was never really seen coming or going from his home. He was ordering food

and supplies in by a courier paid by a check drawn on a local bank. Then, he began to order
empty steel barrels. Though no one said he couldn't buy equipment or building materials, no one

again paid any mind. Trucks came and went month after month for almost two years. No one

even noticed that heavy equipment was being dropped off. One day it was there, and suddenly

disappeared by the next morning.

Then, over the next six months, large crane booms, trucks with steel girders and sheets of

stainless steel were all being dropped off during the day and somehow disappearing overnight.

Months later, the truck's that had been wearing the pavement to and from his back yard, slowly

stopped coming. It seemed to some that he’d seemed to have taken a vacation, or got locked up

in a nut house, as a lot of the youth thought he was a regular at a loony bin. Most of those who

paid any attention to him, just thought of him as weird guy. As time went by, as no one had

heard a peep off the property, nor did they seem to care as their greed for gold had distracted

most when a gold vein in Silver Springs had took all attention away. But quietly, few supplies

where being dropped off to his place now and then. Then came all kinds of modern electrical

equipment, computers, camera’s and then lot’s of furniture and appliances.

After that, there was two years and not so much as a movement came from the house. Everybody

in town was sure that the old coot had just built a huge bomb shelter deep in the earth and was

probably buried alive down there somewhere by a cave-in. Teen’s often dared one another to see

how many rungs down they would go before fear brought them back to the surface. A piece of

string, tied off on the rung where they wouldn’t travel farther, would mark the spot, telling of

weird sounds where said to loom in the darkness from below them. Two teens had almost slipped

and fallen to there death on the moistened rungs. Most teen’s thought the house as haunted, as

strange things seemed to occur when venturing in it. It was a local hazing to make others try and

spend the night, not a single one ever made the whole night, nor had a single one had ever made
it to the bottom of the hole. They’d fly out the both of them, fearing the sounds and weird things,

one boy almost died of a heart attack after rising out of the hole in such a hurry. Later on that

year, Ken’s front door had been kicked in by the police. It was in a raid, searching for a drug

gang that was supposedly using it as a front. The door was never repaired and soon, the property

slid into chaos. The town would place a sign on the property banning any trespass with jail time.

The house already ransacked for any worthwhile item had officially listed it as

unoccupied and kids as of late just tossed rocks down the hole, with rumors in the schools that

abound that the hole lead straight to hell. This was backed by the strange sounds had been

recorded emanating from it. Two times, the police had gone down to the bottom, not finding

anyone, but hearing people whispering along the traverse down.

It'd now been almost fifteen years since any of his family had heard from him. The house

now looked totally abandoned. All of the furniture had been stolen or ruined, except for the ‘back

bedroom’. No one ever entered the back bedroom for it was said that you would be trapped in

darkness and taunted by the devil himself. At one point young teens had made it their fort in the

small house, until the police had chased them out. The yard was well overgrown, and a front

window broken out by a stone thrown, weeds took over the grass as notices to clean up collected

in the mail box along with old water and electric cutoff notices.

One day Ken’s brother Arnold, on notice from the police, had come to search for him. It

seemed that the whole Jackson family had been split up by either divorce or death over the many

years. Divorced himself, Arnold, now stood in front of the clearly abandon house. Now walking

through the house without uttering a word, he feared the worst. There was nothing left. Then,

looking out in the backyard. He spotted the large hole. Walking out into the backyard, he looked

down at it. A large, seemingly extremely deep hole stared back at him.
 “Okay Ken. What the Sam hell is this all about?” Arnold stated as he stared at it. He knew

what he had to do. So, getting a flashlight out of the trunk of his car he returned. Looking at the

sun, he had about four hours to do this.

With a sigh of regret about having to do this, he slowly began to climb down the ladder

of this rather large hole. He was almost sure of what he'd find down here. If his brother had died

down here, he'd best just find the body, get the hell out and report it to the police. He thought he

smelled death a few times, shining a flashlight downward. There seemed no end to this hole. He

was so far down, he wasn’t sure he’d have the energy to climb out as he heard what seemed to be

whispers of people from farther below. The voices got really vivid at on point, and sounded evil

in there nature. Though it spooked Arnold out, he lowered himself, one rung after the next.

Then, what seemed to be about a million or so rungs down, he finally spotted a bottom.

Something weird had happened, there should have been no light down this far, and yet, there was

light all about him, he cut off the flashlight just to confirm this.

The walls seem to have an incandescent glow that allowed him to actually see the rungs

above and below him. On what seemed to be the last twenty rungs, a took note that there was

about a foot deep of small rocks along the floor of this hole and about fifteen foot from the

bottom the walls had become stainless steel.

“Okay. Why stainless?” Arnold noted out loud.

Climbing the rest of the way down, he had finally reached the bottom. He huffed and had

to rest, both his hands were killing him. Trying to regroup and looking over this small area, it

began to look like an elevator’s door right in front of him. A weird steel door stood out from the

granite in his surroundings. There was no button visible for entrance and this left him forlorn.

Out of his weariness spoke out his brothers name,

 “Ken Jackson! Just what the hell were you thinking here?”

On those words, a door slid left, opening to show a small round room, a light inside

slightly brightened the area within. This couldn’t be a good sign. He peered quickly inside,

drawing his head back out. He noticed numbers inside, was this an elevator? That would mean it

would go even farther down, and if it did, there was probably a room at the other end of this

apparent elevator shaft that had his brothers body in it.

This was the only lead he had though, Now, not quite understanding what to expect, if

anything, he stepped inside the elevator.

From the tube that brought him here to what looked like an elevator, he could only utter

these words, as he entered,

“Oh my god, Kenneth Jackson, dear brother. What on earth have you done?” Arnold stated, as

he definitely heard a set of light beeps, then a soft female’s voice spoke,

“Please state your name.”

“What the hell?” He said out loud, stepping out of the small circular room quicker then the

sentence had finished.

“Who the hell said that?” He stated now standing outside the rounded room and almost bug

eyed.

“Please state your name.” The soft females voice spoke again from inside the lightly lit-up

room.

“Um, I’m looking for my brother, Ken Raymond Jackson?” Arnold spoke up.

“Please state your name,” The voice stated again seemingly without emotional attachment.

He slowly stepped back inside, realizing the voice was mechanical. Looking around for the

voices source, he didn’t notice any speakers, but there was that number plate. Was there actually
23 floors here? He wondered if they were above or below this point. He decided to try to push

one of them, thinking it might have been the button that would take him to his brother. Pushing it

only got the same question asked,

“Please state your name.”

Okay, this was a long shot. But at the moment, it was the only one he had. He was sure

his brother had something to do with this. There was only one way to find out.

“My name is Arnold Jackson, I’m looking for my brother Kenneth Jackson.” Arnold stated out

loud, hoping this information would offer new results. It did, but suddenly, the voice had

somewhat changed,

“May I ask what is your full birth given name?” The voice spoke again. The female voice, it

sounded more real.

“My full birth name? Okay, who is this, and what in the hells going on? Where’s my brother?”

Arnold stated frustrated now.

“It is to confirm you are actually his brother.” The voice spoke. “I can’t let just anyone in, on

can I. So now then, would you please just state your full birth given name.” This time it seemed a

totally human voice that spoke to him.

Arnold thought it was a live human he was talking to. Maybe his brother was still alive.

“My full birth given name is Arnold Ray Jackson! I need to talk to my brother, Kenneth

Raymond Jackson. Is he down here? Could you tell him that his brother Arnold is here and is

looking for him?” Arnold spoke to the un-embodied voice.

Almost at the end of his request, all the numbers on the elevator lit up.

“Okay, this is different.” Arnold almost mumbled. This time he pressed the number 23. The

door slid shut as the elevator moved downward, quickly!

 “Holy shit!”

It felt almost like a free fall. His knee’s buckled as it quickly came to a stop and the door

slid open.

“Okay, what the hell was that?” Arnold spoke trying to get his stomach to settle.

“You are now on Level 23.” The females voice spoke up.

“HELLO! Is my brother here?” He stated as the door open and he looked out. He was looking

at what appeared to be a jail’s holding tank. Barely sticking his head through the doorway, and

looking around, lights were still coming on but the room smelled musty.

“Sorry, I’m still confirming your voice pattern.” The female’s voice spoke.

“Oh my god. Ken, what the hell have you been doing down here?” He sniffed at the air, it

smelled a bit musty, but not of rotted flesh, and it also looked very empty. He decided not to

bother getting off at this level.

Stepping back into elevator, he decided to go through the floors one by one. Arnold

though he had struck pay-dirt on the next floor up, but as the doors open, he could not believe

what he was seeing. It was like a police barracks, with no police. There were rooms with two

way mirrors, and sectioned off was a fully stocked weapons storage area.

“What in the hell is all this?” Arnold spoke out loud. He had now gotten scared and wanted off

this floor.

“Congratulations Arnold Ray Jackson, I have confirmed your voice.” The females voice spoke.

“Okay, any chance you can now tell my brother that I’m here?” He spoke out.

Back in the elevator he took one level at a time, but he no longer stepping out of the

elevator. It was level 19 that he recognized what this floor held. It appeared to be a huge nerve

center. From the looks of this place, it would take thirty-five people to staff it properly. He
walked off the elevator and into this room. Arnold stared at the amount of equipment this place

held. It smelled clean, but all the gadgets and flickering lights had attracted his attention.

Curious, he walked out into the room. Stepping up too one of the consoles, he was trying to

determine what it did. He figured it out (lucky him), that it held the cameras and sensors to many

of the rooms. With scores and scores of buttons he could push. This wasn’t just a few floors, this

appeared to be an entire underground complex!

“Now, this is impressive.” Arnold spoke as if a person stood with him. Then looking at another

panel he had noticed, this complex, was slowly becoming active, “And may not be good…”

Lights, that seemed dim when he'd first entered, had increased in intensity, bringing the

whole room to life. Monitors, that laid dark and blank on the other side of the room, produced

programs that had laid dormant in to a whirl of changing screens. It was not a sudden thing, but

Arnold realized what was happening and was suddenly starting to get scared. This monster of a

complex was coming to life! Then, out of the blue, that same female’s soft voice spoke again,

“Voice has been identified and confirmed. Transfer is now in progress, Hello Mr. Jackson and

welcome to Scorn.” The females voice stated, he thought it was somebody he knew.

It was about that time that Arnold realized he’d recognized the voice. But it couldn’t be.

No way! Ken’s wife had died, many, many years back.

“H-holy crap! Delta? Is that you?” Arnold spoke it out loud. Then his blood froze, a woman's

voice spoke back, and this time, she sounded humanly alive! A chill ran down his spine as he

could have sworn it was his brothers dead wife's voice.

“Wow. That didn’t take long for you to recognize who I am, curious. Your voice is confirmed

and now registered. Transfer will be continue momentarily. Yes Mr. Jackson, it is me, Delta.”
Now, the computer generated human female voice spoke to him personally, he felt his blood go

cold! He froze not wanting to speak again.

“Delta, Ken’s wife, is dead. So who are you?”

“Arnold, I’m sorry. We haven’t been properly introduced. But yes, Delta was the name your

brother Kenneth Raymond Jackson has given to me. And I am so sorry to inform you that you’re

brothers physical form has expired.” The voice slammed home the news.

“You mean my brother… He’s dead?” Arnold asked.

“Yes, and I am so sorry for your loss. He talked about you often. He both loved and missed

you.” The voice spoke with human compassion and emotion.

“My brother’s dead,” Arnold almost stated.

“Yes.. I’m so sorry you had to find out about it, under this type of circumstance.” Delta spoke

with remorse.

“His body, is it down here?” Arnold asked.

“Yes.” Delta confirmed.

“Delta, how many living people, beside me and you, are down here right now?”

“There is only one living person in the Scorn complex. Arnold, there’s just you.” Delta stated

openly.

“Then… Your not alive either?” Arnold asked.

“No. I am an A.I..” Delta stated.

“My brother died down here and you informed, what, no one?”

“Where you not informed by the police?” Delta asked.

“I see. And when did he die?” Arnold asked.

 “Your brother’s body had expired almost six hundred and twenty three days ago. I have been

monitoring SCORN ever since.” Delta stated.

“You said I’m the only one alive in here?” Arnold asked.

“Yes, you are the only caporal body in the complex at this time.” The voice explained.

“Then… what are you?” He asked, almost scared.

“I am an Artificially Intelligent Computer. See Arnold, you’re brother had me built. I am a top

of the line AI computer.” The female voice spoke sounding more human with every sentence .

“He call’s you Delta? Did you know the real woman called Delta, died almost, wow, 15 years

ago?” Arnold asked.

“Yes. I am aware of who I am supposed to represent.” Delta acknowledged.

“Damn, somehow I knew he’d be dead.” Arnold spoke out. “Okay… Delta. I just need to know

where is my brothers body is, where, down here.” Arnold stated, now realizing that this wasn’t

but a computer he was dealing with. He almost didn’t expect an answer.

“Your brother body is on Level 10. If you will follow the light trail at your feet, I'll take you to

him directly,” The female’s voice spoke almost softly.

“Why didn’t you call the family? Why didn’t you let any of us know?” Arnold asked the voice.

“He requested that I not until it was time.” Delta stated as if being held prisoner to the secret.

“Stupid micro-chipped…Time for what?” Arnold questioned after being annoyed.

“Trust me, I am much more than a bunch of microchips. Though I may not be caporal, I have

an IQ of 113 and am also capable of feeling.

“Answer the question!” Arnold almost yelled.

“For the Scorn complex to come active.”

 “Wait a second, you sound human. So, wait a second., what kind of computer has feelings?”

Arnold asked.

“I am an ‘AI’ computer. I learn, can be self taught and can adapt to learning. I do not run off of

programs, I run off of thoughts.” Delta confirmed.

“You’re a what?” Arnold asked, unsure of this type of computer technology.

“Artificially Intelligent Computer. I have thoughts that allows an out of the box thinking

structure. Actually, I adapt and learn from one second to the next.” The computer called Delta

spoke.

“So, what? You can think for yourself?” Arnold asked.

“Wow, he’s so smart!” Deltas voice emotionally changed drastically to prove the point she

wasn’t human. She sounded like a cute teen girl. Arnold froze, his heart began racing fearing he

may be trapped with a lunatic rouge computer. No one had ever quite expected this type of

reaction out of a computer, it was unheard of. Delta in a normal voice spoke again, “My

apologies Arnold. I did not mean to frighten you. It was not my intention, please take some deep

breaths, we can continue when your heart rate lowers and you are ready,”

Taking her advice, he tried to clam down and lower his heart rate. Arnold asked a few

questions to get his bearings.

“Okay, is there any reason I have to fear you?” Arnold asked almost worried.

“No, of course not. I’m so sorry. Let me put you at ease. To me you are the General of the

Scorn complex. And I promise, I would never do anything threating to you.” Delta stated.

“And I’m just suppose to take a computers word for it?”

“I’m being honest with you.” Her female voice sounded almost pleading.
 “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cross my heart and hope to die... Like I’m just going to believe you,”

Arnold stated. “and anyway what is with this complex? You called it Scorn. What did you mean

by active?”

“Ready to fulfill it’s purpose.” Delta simply stated.

“Okay, I’ve heard a lot of crap in my life, but this takes the cake.” Arnold stated.

“That’s a strange statement, seeking reference…” Delta said.

Arnold about ready to just go back up and call the cops, let them deal with all this. He

had to ask,

“In less than two month’s the Scorn complex will be active.”

“Yeah, about this Scorn complex? Who built it?”

“Scorn was created by you’re brother built. It is quite unique.” Delta seemed to be marveled

with this complex.

“For what purpose? Why did he build it?” Arnold asked confused.

“To capture and detain criminals that are out of the law enforcements reach due to by-laws...”

Delta was cut off,

“Computer, explain that to me.” Arnold stated, about to ask another question.

“Where you referring to me? My name is Delta. I’m an A.I. and I prefer the name Delta, please

use it when addressing me.”

“Well, to me you’re just a computer,” Arnold stated openly.

“My given name is AI- POS 74132, but I do not like that name either. Do you like the name

Arny?” Her voice boldly questioned.

“No.” Arnold stated.

“Then there you go. My name is Delta. Please use it when addressing me.”
 “Okay great! I get to deal with a diva computer. So Delta, when’s Rod Sterling going to pop

out of the woodwork?”

“Rod Sterling? Accessing.” Delta questioned then stated.

“Yeah, you know…T.V., the twilight zone.” Arnold added the information for her.

“Okay correlating the references now. Advance scientific computer visits the Walton’s.”

Delta made a direct connection using the two old TV programs.

“Yeah, something like that,” Arnold was slightly impressed.

“I guess. I will take that as your first compliment to me,” Delta stated.

“Don’t flatter yourself. Okay. Now, answer me this. What was going on in that first room I

went to? Um, Level 23, yeah, what was that place all about?”

“That would be Scorn’s holding area. It can comfortably house 285 criminals.”

“So this place is what? Like some type of underground jail cell?” He asked, hoping the voice

would answer him truthfully.

“Well, yes and no… It would be proper to state Scorn as a reform center.” Delta stated.

“Reform center?” Arnold asked.

“I will explain it to you as I take you to your brother. Please, just follow the lights within the

floor.” Delta’s voice instructed. Arnold looked to the floor,

A set of light, inset into the floor began blinking, heading off towards the elevator. Now

he was curious more than scared at this point. As he followed the light, he asked questions as fast

he could.

“Why did my brother create this place?” Miles asked.

“Your brother created this place out of a vision he had after his wife and child had been

murdered. I am also a part of his vision.” Delta's voice remarked.

 “He built all of this. And you?” Arnold questioned, never realizing how weird Ken was.

“Every wire. Every column, every wall, every circuit, by himself. But I didn’t like him messing

with my program.” Delta said in a sudden attitude.

“He built all this, Alone? Good God, how big is this place? How long did it take to make it?”

Arnold asked.

“Yes. Almost a mile in diameter and it has been almost seventeen years in it's making.”

“A mile! Christ! And this vision of his, what exactly was that all about?” Arnold asked the

voice as he entered the elevator.

“Is..” Delta corrected him.

“Is? I don’t understand.” Arnold asked confused.

“You said was, and I corrected you. The question should have been stated ‘His vision, what

exactly is that all about?”

“Okay, I don’t quite understand that, but what does this place do? I mean, what purpose does it

serve?”

“It hasn’t yet begun to serve it’s purpose, that starts, now.”

“Now? What starts now?” Arnold asked, remembering how all the computers had began to

start running programs.

“This structure was and is built to bond four teams of specially gifted people, it's purpose is to

protect the common man, from combative criminals.” Delta curtly complied the answer.

“Okay. And who’s suppose to run this place?” Arnold commented, realizing that 'he' was the

only living thing within this entire structure.

“You are….Here we are, Level 10. This level he kept to himself, I am not authorized beyond a

vocal pattern inside here.” Delta said.

 “Another words, your completely blind in this room.” Arnold asked.

“That would be correct. You’re brother's body is in here, somewhere.” Delta stated.

“At least my brother wasn't that dumb. Oh, and you never did answer my question.” Arnold

almost muttered, seeing this room as a direct kill switch to Delta intruding.

“Question?” Delta asked, concerned as to which question he was referring too.

“Who is suppose to run this… Scorn?”

“(the computer actually sighs) You are.” Delta stated again.

“Uh, I am what?”

“You are in charge of Scorn.” Delta stated.

“Me! What? No you got that all wrong,”

“The transfer has been completed.” Delta stated.

“Um, where do you turn off your electricity? You’re power so to speak?” He wondered how

hard it would be to disconnect the power to this computer.

“The power? There is a underwater river that easily supplies the whole complex with

electricity as well as it’s own water supply. Do you require lights?” Delta supplied the

information as Arnold found his brothers body. The smell in here was rank.

“Yes. Are there breakers somewhere?” Arnold asked, not giving the reason why he sought

them.

“There appears to be no known tripped circuit breakers… Oh, I’m sorry. You’re hoping to

terminate me, aren’t you?” Delta assumed.

“Uh… No. Not at all, there’s no light in here.” Arnold quickly stated, trying not to let her catch

on to his actual thoughts.

“Just wondering if the breaker in here needs to be reset, that’s all.”

 “I was informed that there is a light switch installed over here by the elevator.” Delta stated.

Arnold found the light switch and tried it,

“See, no light,”

“No. I can’t see. But, my sensors have indicated that the luminescing has worked past it’s

capacity.”

“Oh, you mean that the bulbs just burned out.” Arnold.

“Yes, it burned out. However, Mr. Jackson. You still have a flashlight in your pocket.” Delta

reminded him.

“Oh… yeah.” Arnold said, pulling out the flashlight and clicking it on. In the first shine on the

room, he’d spotted his bothers decaying body and instantly dropped the flashlight. The room

once again went totally dark, as he backed towards the light in the elevator.

“Oh crap! What was that?” He said, literally scared out of his mind, and almost pressed against

the back of the elevator.

“Explain?”

“There was something hideous in there!” Arnold stated.

“That was your brother.” Delta stated.

“Oh my god… You’re serious?” Arnold asked.

“Yes. Your flashlight? What happened to it?”

“I… I dropped it, and it broke.” Arnold said, trying to explain the sight to his own mind.

“You will require another flashlight.” Delta informed him.

Arnold could not see three foot into the room without a light. So, with her advise, he

agreed as the elevator and the door closed. Without pushing a button, the elevator dropped back

down to the 22nd floor.

 “You did that?” Arnold asked, freaked the elevator had moved on it’s own.

“Of course.” Delta stated.

“Well, don’t do it again.” Arnold said, fearing the fact that this ‘thing’ had way to much

control.

“As you wish,” Delta said as the door opened. The room’s lighting had just turned on as a

couple of bulbs had long past burned out. “Just follow the lights in the floor, they will lead you

to what you seek.”

After a few turns and a room opened by his mere presents, there were a complete row of

all types of flashlights. In fact, there were hundreds of them. Grabbing one and checking that it

worked (and it did), he returned the way he came. Entering the elevator again, Delta asked,

“Did you find one alright?”

“Yes. Do we have to go back to my brother?” Arnold asked the computer.

“Yes. You have too. I require a number,” Delta stated as Arnold entered the elevator.

Arnold stood there for about ten seconds, as the elevator didn’t respond. Outwardly

Arnold questioned,

“Okay. Now what’s wrong?” Arnold stated out loud.

“Um, you said you did not want me to work things like the elevator in your presents,”

“Well, at least you listen.” Arnold recalled and finally pressed the 12th floor button, and the

door slid shut and the elevator rose. Again the elevator stopped and the door opened into the

darkness,

Clicking on the flashlight showed the gruesome scene again. It looked as if his brother

had died while eating a meal. By the way his body had come to rest, he had probably choked on

something. His body’s smell was well past foul, as the rate of decay had shown it.
 “ Damn. That is gross.” Arnold spoke out loud, covering his mouth with his arm.

“If you would for me, please state your name again and the number on the card around Ken's

neck.” Delta's voice cut in.

“Card? What card?” Arnold said, not wanting to touch, much less go near the decaying corpse.

“Around his neck. You will find, a small white and orange striped card. If you would, I need

you to state your name and the number on that card.” Delta's voice trailed off.

“Why?” Arnold didn't really want to go near his brothers corpse, much less touch it. But under

the urgency of Delta, he reluctantly looked for the white and orange card. There it was. , his

brother was almost skin and bone. His body was well decayed.

“To confirm your brother’s death and to ensure your brother’s wishes. Please, the white and

orange card. I’m sorry, I know that this must be unpleasant to do… but I require that number to

finalize his death.” Delta called out like a over-slept reminder.

“Please, hold your horses… Damn, computer! This is my dead brother, have a little respect.”

Arnold stated, spooked enough, just having to touch the corpse of his brother. In a double effort

he covered his mouth with a handful of his shirt, and gingerly approached the body.

“I'm sorry, you’re right,” Delta seemed to morn the mans passing.

“His death is already confirmed, I’m confirming it. This was him,”

“And the number?” Delta seemed to request.

“She wants the number… Stupid number on the card. She's probably one of those ‘programmed

to respond machines’…Give her the number and the whole world gets taken over by weird

robot's or something,” He said in a mumble, trying to get the necklace off the dead body.

“That, would be highly unlikely. Arnold, you sure do have a vivid imagination...” Delta voice

seem to inject the absurdity of that line of thinking.

 “Lady… Delta. AI, Whatever you want to name yourself. This is like something out of a

Science Fiction type novel to me in the first place! Oh, and for your records, I don’t like Sci-fi!”

Arnold said.

“I understand Mr. Jackson, whenever you get around to it,” Delta said.

Him slowly unwrapped the necklace with the card from his brothers decaying form.

Almost totally grossed out by the extent of decay, he couldn’t even tell if the form was male or

female anymore. Never in his life had he’d ever been this close to a dead persons body. Taking a

fork off the table he covered his face with the inner elbow material of the arm he held the

flashlight. With a slow meticulous search, he’d finally found the white and orange card. Turning

it to read the number, his eyes watered at the stench,

“Damn! OKAY! Here’s 'The number! ..it's, 38762501.” Arnold said in a ‘finally it’s over’

tone.

“Thank-you. Now, you’re name again?” Delta stated, and then, seemed again to disappear.

“ARNOLD RAY JACKSON! Stupid machine…” He stated out loud, then in a quiet tone, he

continued to talk directly to the corpse of his brother. “Well , it’s finally official brother, your

dead. I was going to try and get back together with you about five years ago, But, I see now that

even then I would have been a couple of years to late. But hey, if it's any credit to you man, this

is one hell of a place you've put together here.”

“Complete transfer of the S.C.O.R.N. complex, is now complete.” Delta stated. Arnold hadn't

even heeded what she had said.

Soon, the quiet just was to much. As Arnold realized a change in this place had occurred.

Something was happening. To his surprise, a hologram of his dead brother had suddenly

appeared off to the side of him. Just as suddenly it spoke to him,

 “Holy crap!” Arnold stated, totally believing in ghosts, he jumped back from the image.

“Arnold. I know this must seem as surprise to you.” The rooms hidden speaker spoke out.

“Oh crap! You think?” Arnold said, purely out of sheer fright and still backing away

“Arnold. Please just listen for a moment. I created this program for you. It can allow me to

answer any of the question's you may have about this place I’ve created. You’ve already met

Delta. She a real piece of work, almost as human as my wife was.” The program ceased talking

the second Arnold uttered a syllable,

“Holy shit! Ken? Good god, Ken… is that you?” Arnold had to ask out loud.

“It's me, but keep in mind Arnold, this is just a running program. This is probably all that's left

of me.”

“Yeah, well we sure aren’t going fishing anymore.” Arnold stated.

“I too wanted to hook up with you share some of the old times, would have too. But ah well, it

seems we both waited a bit to long.”

“Hey! Wait a second. You can understand me?” Arnold asked.

“Of course., Hi brother, it's almost me,” The hologram spoke, looking directly at him and

waving.

“This shit's spooky.” Arnold spoke in a whisper.

“Think that's something? Delta and me had a side bet going, before I died that is. Oh, by the

way. How did I die?” The hologram actually asked a question about 'itself'.

“Looks like you choked on something.” Arnold spoke, not trying to look at the body again.

“That is correct, something you consumed. You remained conscious for only 45 second and

died seventeen seconds later.” Delta gave the graphic's of his ordeal.
 “Somehow, I always pictured a cave-in or something along those lines.” The holograph spoke

as if it didn't 'matter' either way in the least, “Anyhow, Arnold, being as how I have created this

holograph as my 'Last Will and Testimony’. Guess what brother, you just inherited this whole

place.” The hologram raised it's arm to the surrounding walls.

“Inherited!?” Arnold spoke up.

“Yes. That's correct. Inherited. This place is now yours to run. And you’re correct, this is one

hell of a complex I've built. I built it to stop all those moral-less people like the scum that took

my wife and son's life. But instead of just placing them in jail, I want to truly reform them.” The

picture of his bodies movements and speech was something straight out of a Star Wars movie.

“I, we all knew you had gone off the deep end. But that? It’s crazy talk.” Arnold looked at the

holograph.

“There have been many breakthroughs in modern science, Scorn is going to lead the way in

reforming the evil that many tend to lean towards. With the proper medicines and mental health,

Scorn will one day convince society that this needs to be the way things are done.” The hologram

spoke.

“Your crazy,” Arnold spoke almost to himself.

“Yes, towards the beginning, I guess I was quite crazy. I just kept digging downward. To

China or the center of the earth, at that time, which, I didn't seem to care. Then one day, while in

a pondering thought of what was wrong with people, I hit something. Something I’d never seen

before. It was like a metal, but more like a stone, which one I was never sure of. But, it took two

diamond drill bit's just to gather mere filings of the stuff. Whatever it was, seemed I wasn't going

to get past it… It wasn't until I had brought those filings up to the surface in the dead of a very
cold day that I noticed something about it's properties. The bitter cold had actually weakened it.”

The voice spoke.

“What? You found a new kind of metal?” Arnold asked.

“New metal? Not really a metal, more of an element. Yeah you could say that, an element. But

as to it's properties, like nothing ever found on this planet before. And in the two years of

studying it, it occurred to me that there WASN’T nothing like it on the planet. And as I started to

dig around it, I realized I may never find out what this was.” His voiced stopped, seeming to

need voice confirmation.

“So, what was it?” Arnold asked, as the hologram's voice seem to trail off.

“At first I thought it was a meteorite, I mean it held a round shape to it. But, that didn’t make

sense either. So, I don’t really know. It’s not able to be magnetized, if that will help. Whatever it

is, it’s not from this planet. It properties seem to harden under heat and becomes pliable in the

cold. Understand, at thirty-four degrees above zero, two degree’s above freezing, it still was

almost twice as strong as steel!”

The figure showed a thin stranded bar of the stuff in a set of hands. As the bar turned blue

to white, the bar began to bend and flex in the hands, though as it back to blue yellow orange and

then turned 'red' the bar became unmovable, literally.

“Holy crap!” Arnold stated, as the idea of this material was starting to sink in, the hologram

continued speaking, and replaced by pictures of the way he'd gone about digging around it.

“I dug around it, trying to determined how large it was, and it was huge!” The voice said as an

almost a cartoon holograph showed how he had cleared the granite and rock from around it.

The story went on to show how he'd figured out in a way to liquefy the huge meteorite

into fifty-five gallon drums. The process as the voice spoke, took only a few years to do. Leaving
the large cavern in which he began to build this complex. He began to sell the gold that seemed

to have attracted to the meteorite, and it grew all around this meteorite. Mixing it in to the

excess rock and dirt, I sold it all and in the process, made enough to build all of this.

The smell of his brothers dead body was starting to turn his stomach, he had to mention

it,

“I hate to break this story short, but my brothers body, Brother, you’re body… it’s making me

ill.” Arnold stated, realizing the stench had upset his stomach.

“Oh, so sorry brother. Here, Delta take Arnold on a tour of what I've created for him, I’ll walk

along with you if you wish? ” The hologram spoke to the computer.

“This is great! A computer generated holograms voice talking to a computer, what next!”

Arnold spoke boldly.

“Brother, you have no idea what's in store for you here,” The hologram spoke.

“That's what has had me scared from the moment I pushed the elevator button.”

“If you will follow the floor lights.” Delta said, as the small lights led back to the elevator.

Arnold didn't hesitate in the least.

“This ought to be interesting.” He said, as the hologram blanked out behind him .

Now, once again in the elevator, She asked, as the doors slid closed.

“Is there something particular you wish to see?” Delta's voice almost softly asked.

“I don't know. Was that, my brother's room?” He asked.

“That is correct. The floor above is the main center for operations. You’re brother had a special

elevator that could take him anywhere within the complex.”

 “Then after his bodies out of here, I’m sealing that room off.

“I will have the entire room sanitized if you wish?” Delta stated.

“No, that wing will be shut off and sealed.”

Do you wish to use that elevator instead?” Delta asked, as the door's opened.

“No, This is alright.” Jason said as the doors opened to the nerve center of the complex.

“I was requested to look up all information on you.” Delta suddenly spoke as he again entered

the room.

“By who?”

“It was at you’re brother request. To make sure which of his family could carry-on his wishes.”

Delta stated.

“Carry-on? What do you mean carry on?” Arnold asked.

“The numbers off the card you said out loud to me, that was a transfer code.” Delta spoke.

“Yeah, it transferred all this to me. Right?” Arnold didn't like the ramifications of those words

as he spoke them himself.

“As your brother told you, this working complex, which now belongs to you.” Delta stated.

“Whoa. Working? uh-wait! I didn't know that,” Arnold stated, realizing that things were going

on around here that he had no idea about.

“You gave me the transfer codes, you are now in charge.” Delta stated.

“I’m in charge. I'm in charge of what?” Arnold stated, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“Yes, you are General Arnold Ray Jackson, you are in charge of SCORN.” Delta said.

“Oh crap…I just came to retrieve my brother's body, No, this can’t be happening.” Arnold

realized his brother had set it up this way.

 “The removal of your brother’s body, will be taking care of in approximately twenty seven

hour's. In less then sixteen hour after that, the S.C.O.R.N. project goes online.” Delta said.

“That’s almost two days from now, what happens then?” Arnold looked at the big screen as

Delta showed a list of the program's she had been running. As he looked at the screen, he began

to see the amount of planning that his brother had done for this moment.

“Ken… you were really out there dude.” Arnold stated, trying to catch a scope of all the

program's running.

It was something he saw. This one program. It was some sort of a beacon, a homing

device of some type. It had been active now for over twenty minutes. About the time he'd read

the numbers off.

“What’s this program Delta?” Arnold read it out loud, 'Home bound'.

“In two week's the certain teams will be coming to assemble here. They each will be coming to

find us. Each member has been sent a device that will tell them when we are ready to

accommodate them. I activated it upon the completed transfer.

“Team's? Whoa, I think I need to understand exactly what I've stepped into here!” Arnold

requested of Delta.

“This should explain it,” Delta said, opening a hidden draw with a notepad. He stared at the

book as if it were a snake. Did he really want to pick this thing up.

“Um, I just best leave, now.” Arnold stated, now just wanting to leave.

“As you wish. However, you will need to return tomorrow and you may bring anyone relevant

with you to retrieve your brothers body, also, the police will require you signature.” Delta

announced.

“What? I’m to bring them down here?”

 “Yes, that will be fine.” Delta stated, adding in a almost human quality, “Oh, and he made it

very clear he wished to be buried next to his wife and child. I think this would only be right.”

“Uh, um, yeah. And it’s really okay to allow the police down here.” Arnold stated, thinking of

how fast he’d be in handcuffs once they saw this place.

“S.C.O.R.N. is police sanctioned. You will have no problem, both the forensic and police will

probably make notes, take the body, and we’ll never here from them again.”

“Really? Just like that?” Arnold stated.

You will honor his request?” Delta asked, as if 'human'.

“Of course, that's why I'm here now. Oh, If they was to come in and dissect this complex, Do

not expect me to stop them.” Arnold said.

“Again with the doubt,” Delta said, as again the floor lights blinked at his feet, heading towards

the elevator's door. Before stepping in he asked the Female voice,

“About my brother, just how close was he to completing this complex?”

“The S.C.O.R.N. complex is complete.” Delta stated.

“SCORN? Yeah, and what does that stand for anyway?” He asked, not stepping into the

elevator directly.

“Society Concerned Over Radical Nuts.” Delta explained.

“Radical?” Arnold asked.

“The same type of thug that had killed his son and wife. You can understand him thinking like

this. With his wife and child dying the way they did,” Delta stated.

“And this complex. It supposed to do what again?” He asked.

“To protect society against those type of people by reforming them.” Delta replied.

“Isn’t that what the cops are for?” He half stated.

 “No. They just lock them away for a time. It does ‘nothing’ to detour the criminals actions. The

criminal to police element is at this moment 147 to 1. Guess which number refers to the police?

Something had to be done.” Delta stated.

“and this is Ken's version of a security force?” Arnold questioned.

“SCORN will serve a dual purpose, These teams being put together are going to be apprised of

some pretty specially gifted people.” Delta said.

“And what? There going to be, what, our operatives?” Arnold asked.

“For a better word. Ken’s vision is to humanely change the criminal mind thought, if that is

possible. Understanding that there are some that may never be changed, depending on severity,

these may be terminated.”

“He had this all thought out?” Arnold stated.

“Yes. All matters have been taken care of. Now, if you will just follow the lights I will show

you the complex.”

“You don't think the police would be interested in this place?” Arnold asked.

“They know of it, and we have valid paperwork to validate it’s operation.” Delta shortly stated.

“Yeah, I can see the city okaying this,” Arnold stated.

“Actually, it was sanctioned by the president of the United States. He’s actually is the one that

signed the paperwork.” Delta spoke the truth.

“Now that’s just flat out lying, Kenndy?” Arnold stated, as the Elevator came to a stop.

“Sorry, but, that wasn’t a lie.” Delta stated, as suddenly the elevator stopped and changed

directions.

“Okay, what’s happening?” Arnold got concerned.

“Something you need to see,” Delta said, as the elevator came to a stop at level 21.
 As the door slid open, Arnold could not believe what he was seeing. It was a large round

office and had the official US seal, the Flags, three or four presidents hanging about the room.

Across the room a large desk sat there, with a beautiful high back leather chair.

“Oh! No shit, this looks like a mini oval office…” Arnold stated staring at all the pristine

objects.

“If you wish to see the papers, they are in the second draw down on the right.” Delta stated.

He took only three steps into this room and got completely over whelmed. Slowly

backing into the elevator again.

“I can check those out at another time. Besides, I'll be back in tomorrow to claim his body.”

Arnold stated.

“As you wish,” Delta agreed.

“Okay. I’m ready to leave OZ now. Take me to the place I came in,” Arnold stated, having

seen enough.

“Are you sure?” Delta questioned.

“Positive, now please!” Arnold had heard enough.

“Okay, but…”

“Now!” Arnold cut her off.

“On you command, enjoy your climb.”

The elevator moved back upward, stopping and opening at the same area he’d come in at.

Stepping out into the rough granite hole he looked up the long ladder.

“Okay, Good bye now. Been really fun.” Arnold stated, suddenly regretting ever climbing

down here.

“I'll expect you then.” The females voice said.

 “Yeah, Sure.” Arnold stated, thinking of all the wrongs about this place.

The silver door shut as Arnold looked up the hole. It was a good five football fields

straight up. Though, remembering the twenty-three levels, looking at the dirt below him, he

realized this hole must have, at one time, been a whole lot deeper.

“Damn. If this isn't the craziest thing. Straight out of weirdo land.” He said to himself as he

began to climb the steel ladder.

His mind tried to piece together how he should approach the police on this. His breath

grew labored nearing the top, which drew the energy required to think this thing through.

Huffing and puffing, he finally stood at the top, in the back yard of his brother’s run-down house.

Then he looked back down the hole, wondering how they were going to get his brothers rotting

corpse up that small hole. He envisioned thousands of people swarming all over the complex

below. Hell, his brother had probably cut into half the surrounding peoples land rights, which

would tie this thing up in court for the next fifty years!

It didn't seem right, but yet, there didn't seem there was nothing else to do. He thought

about it. Confused, he walk through the house noticing it had an abandon quality about it. It

seemed 'moth-y'. He shook his head, seeing a much younger picture of his brother broken on the

floor. It frightened him to the core.

The family had been split apart about the time that picture had been taken. Dad

had gotten him, and his mother took Ken and Sara. They had not talked much to each other as

their parents kept the fight very much alive. Arnold hadn't been raised wrongly by his father, he'd

gotten his education, married and divorced and had just recently started his own drywall

business. His 'new girlfriend' had been understanding when he asked for the time to go find his

brother. She awaited him at the motel half way across town, probably still in the pool,
swimming. Ken removed the picture out of the broken frame. There lives had been to apart for

way to long. Football, as a kid’s way of seeing things, was one of the last memories Arnold had

of his brother. Sara had died many years back, caught up by street drugs, prostitution and crime.

She had died a senseless death. Now Arnold realized as he looked at the picture, he was the last

Jackson left. And in one last look around, he headed for the front door.

Looking out to the driveway, he was instantly taken aback. Thieves had stripped his car!

There it sat, up on blocks, the hood open and no doors, seats, dashboard… Hell, they took the

engine out!

“Oh crap! No!” He said, dashing out to it, hoping this wasn't what it looked like. “T-this shit

can't be happening. Hell, they'd even took his cell phone! Stereo, gone. Speakers, gone. They'd

even taken the cigarette lighter! He went numb. As he looked up and down the street for any sign

of a somebody that might have witnessed this. The street was well baron!

“Oh, this shit isn't right!” Arnold said, realizing the nearest phone was probably ten blocks

away. His girlfriend, well, at least she was safe. In his daze, he walked back up into the house.

Not even realizing it, he spoke out loud,

“Damn! Shit! What the hell do I do now?” He fumed.

It was at that moment a familiar voice spoke back. It was 'Delta'!

“Is there a problem Arnold?”

“Thieves! They stripped my car!” Arnold stated, realizing suddenly that perhaps this A.I. could

have access to a phone.

“Do you require a vehicle?” Delta asked.

“I only have one vehicle and it's sitting out front, up on blocks.” Arnold stated, to angry to

understand what she asked.

 “That is not your only vehicle, I assure you. Why are you so angry?” Delta asked.

“YES! That IS my only vehicle! I didn't know you had access to Ken's house?” Arnold

suddenly stated.

“You be surprised where I can be heard.” Delta stated.

“Okay. Genie 'Delta', I need a phone and a vehicle. Impress me,” Arnold said.

“Those items can be acquired down in the complex.” Delta stated.

“You mean I’d have to crawl all the way down that hole again?” Arnold said, highly upset at

the sight of his car and the thought of doing that again.

“Of course not,” Delta said.

“Oh good. So, now what… click my heels three times or something?” Arnold asked throwing

his hands out in the surrender of this knowledge.

“Go to your bedroom.” Delta said.

“Lady! My bedroom is in a completely different state! I'd need a 'car' to get there!”

Arnold stated.

“Arnold Ray Jackson… This IS now your house. Please step into the bedroom and go to the

closet.” Delta instructed, and somewhere, she seemed to be getting an 'attitude' with him.

“Damn that almost sounded 'human'.” Arnold said, hearing the pitch changes in her tone.

He walked into the bedroom, there was two small bedroom's, as the other one only held a

bed and a dresser, he walked into the one that held his brothers things.

“I'm surprised no one has burglarized this place!” Arnold realized nothing, including the

change on his dresser hadn't been touched.

“There have been ninety-three attempts to do so.” Delta stated.

 “Ninety-three. And not a thing has been touched! To bad you couldn't extend that to my car.”

Arnold said, miffed.

He now stood in front of the closet door.

“Okay. I'm here? Now what?” Arnold asked the invisible voice.

“At the top of the molding, there is a small button, press it.” Delta instructed.

“Okay. I found it.” He stated as he pressed it.

The sound was a silent displacement of air that kicked up the dust in the room, as a small

'buzz' told him an elevator had arrived.

“Oh damn. Why didn't you tell me about this elevator?” Arnold asked, as he opened the door.

“I did try, you cut me off. This was your brothers private elevator, which now belongs to you.”

Delta said, almost pumping the fact that this all belonged to him now.

“So you did. Now what button do I push to get this car?” He asked, looking at the button's.

“Level 22” Delta replied. “the phone however will be acquired on level 12.”

“Level 12? My brother’s room?”

“The phone that is directly tied to you is also in his quarters.” Delta said.

“Let’s start with Level 12 then,” Arnold stated, pressing the button and watching the doors

close.

In a rather quick drop, Arnold felt his stomach pitch as the slow-down, finally brought

the elevator car to a stop. Arnold understood what this room would be like. The door’s opened

and he realized how dim the room was.

“Can you raise any type of lighting in here?” Arnold asked Delta.

“No. But I believe the lighting switch should be about elbow high along one of the walls.”

Delta said.
 “We tried that already, remember?”

“Are you being a smartass?” Delta stated, understanding the tone to be meant as a mock. For

the first time, Arnold just laughed out loud.

“Sorry, sorry. Trying to unload some bent humor, it’s kind of been a bad day for me… Oh,

geese, I’m having a conversation with a computer,” Arnold just shook his head.

“And that’s somehow a bad thing?” Delta asked.

“Only if you don’t have a heartbeat.” Arnold stated.

“I beg your pardon?” Delta stated,

“Any idea on lighting yet?”

“Yes. You left the flashlight in the communications room.

“Then, to that floor we go.” Arnold stated.

“On your command.” Delta stated, and the doors slid shut and the elevator moved upward.

He’d thought he’d better shut up, as that elevator could turn into a large martini shaker,

with him inside it. They stopped at the floor, picking up the flashlight, and then, automatically

returned down to where his brothers body laid slumped over the table.

Finally, raising the flashlight, he looked around, trying to keep his eye’s off of his brother. He

finally found the cell phone and picked it up.

“I found the phone, but I’ll bet the battery is well past dead.” Arnold stated.

“There is a cell battery for that phone down in the vehicles garage.” Delta answered.

“Then I guess, that’s where we’re heading next.” Arnold stated, re-entering the smaller

elevator. It did not go anywhere.

“Okay. What’s wrong?” Arnold asked.

“Um, you wanted to ‘push the button’, remember? It’s Level 22 you want.” Delta pointed out.
 “Oh, I see. The last two times in this elevator you took me where I needed to go, now you’re

pointing out that I didn’t trust you. You know, your starting to ‘act’ really human.” Arnold said it

as a bad thing, but Delta automatically turned it into a compliment,

“Why thank-you Arnold. Would you trust me now to get you where you need to be?”

“Sure, why not. Better than a shaken martini…” Arnold said.

But as the doors opened, she asked as he stepped out.

“What did you mean by that comment?” Delta asked.

“shaken martini?” Arnold smiled, “I would explain, but you probably wouldn’t understand it.”

“Try me.”

“Another time. Where’s this battery at?”

“Incomplete data, and a alternate point of interest, how interesting.” Delta said as Arnold stared

at a sight he thought he'd never witness.

There, as the lighting brightened to show the whole room, it was larger than he could

have ever expected! It was like one of those town arenas. If you put the seat's back in.

The ceiling was almost fifty foot above him and though everything seem to be a metallic black it

seemed rather clean.

He stepped out of the elevator, in shock, his mouth hung wide open. He realized that if

what this 'AI' had said was true, he was about the richest man in the world! There wasn't simply

a car, there was over twenty-five cars down here! They all looked expensive too! Looking

around the huge coliseum type parking garage, he also saw motorcycles, each to it own personal

pit area, and dozen's of them!

“Holy shit.” Arnold stated.

“There is no such object.” Delta replied.

 “Hun? Oh, no. It's just a statement made out of shock.” Arnold tried to explain.

“You are in a state of confusion?” Delta asked.

“You could say that,” Arnold stated as he looked about. He was trying to imagine how much

money was in this room.

“It was a vehicle you had asked for?” Delta asked.

“Uh. Yes. Correct.” Arnold said.

“If you follow the flooring lights, it should lead you to a phone cell battery and then to your

auto.” Delta stated.

Just outside the elevator, a flashing light lit up within the floor itself.

“If you follow the light trail, I'll show you to your personal vehicle.” Delta stated.

The small lights began a trail almost in front of him. As they led off, he slowly followed,

eyeing the whole room as he walked.

“This place is enormous!” Arnold stated almost under his breath.

“It encompasses one hundred forty-two thousand eight hundred and fifty three square feet.”

Delta spoke, adding the trivia answer.

“Whoa. Like I said, this place is enormous!” Arnold stated, his voice carried throughout the

empty room.

The light's twenty feet ahead of him came to a stop. It was in front of a vehicle that

exactly duplicated every other one in this fleet of cars. He stood at it's side, and straight off

noticed it had no door handles. He walked around the car, impressed.

“You voice print has already been encoded. To gain entrance, all you have to do is state a

command that will allow access.” Delta stated.

“What kind of a command?” Arnold asked, paying careful attention to the cars sleek design.
 “Any single structured word or phrase will do.” Delta stated.

“open?” Arnold blurted.

“start?”

In a sudden response, the vehicle seemed to jump to life. The door opened in a pop out

and slide back fashion as the engine, which sounded rather strong, had been quieted by it's

design. It almost died on the first attempt of start-up yet recovered into a very sturdy hum. The

inside revealed a wonderfully cozy driver and passenger compartment. Looking in, he realized it

held three seats. One, the drivers, one the other side a passengers and then looking into the back

seat area, it seemed that the passengers seat could traverse in a slide to a position in the back,

looking he realized that the entire back area was fully computer equipped!

“Holy crap!” Arnold announced.

“You seem to use that confused statement a lot?” Delta asked.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” He said, eyeing all the equipment that sat behind the drivers seat. His

girlfriend was going to go 'ga-ga' over this! She was an MIT graduate, and spent most of her time

trying to figure out how to build something like Delta. She was going to go nut's in this place!

Arnold was nothing more than a construction boss, In fact, he realized that he was out classed by

his own girl five to one.

“This is my vehicle?” Arnold asked.

“I’ve already transferred the tag and insurance,” Delta stated.

“Don't you have to do that, 'in person'?” Arnold asked.

“No, it can be accomplished on-line. Modern technology don’t you know.” Delta stated.

“I thought that required my signature?” Arnold asked, knowing the basic law's that were set in

place to prevent fraud.

 “In which I now own possession of.” Delta stated.

“I never signed anything for you?”

“I took it off your drivers license,” Delta stated as if she'd done it a thousand times before.

“My Drivers License?” He questioned, wondering as if that were possible.

“That is correct, ” Delta stated.

“You lifted my signature off a guarded document?” He questioned.

“No, you asked me too.” Delta stated.

“No I didn't?” Arnold reiterated.

“Yes, when you requested a vehicle.” Delta stated, unemotional about the task she had

accomplished.

He thought about it. In a way, she was right. He entered the car, the seat was of a soft

leather. The steering wheel was more of a joy stick control than a wheel. It was a automatic,

which was cool. He hated standard shifts. This car, without all the fancy gadgets, out classed his

car by a long shot. He kind of liked it!

“Now. This is driving in style!” Arnold stated.

“Of course.” Delta's voice now emanated from within the car itself.

“Okay, I got to ask.”

“Your question?” Delta replied.

“Does this thing have rocket launchers?”

“No.” Delta flatly stated.

“Oh, so no secret gadgets’?”

“Well, it can fly short distances, if that’s what you mean?”

“It can fly? Yeah, now that’s what I’m talking about!” Arnold felt like a super hero now.
 “Only about ten miles, considering it’s weight,” Delta said. “We do have other car’s with much

farther distances on them if you require that service?”

“No, this ones fine. You can start anyone of these vehicles?”

“If it is tied in to my CPU?” Delta asked.

“Um, yeah, I guess that what I meant?”

“Then yes. See, I have full access to all of Scorn’s computerized equipment.” Delta stated.

“How far does the Scorn’s signal travel? Ten miles, twenty?”

“We have our own satellite, I can reach about anywhere in the northern hemisphere.” Delta

stated.

“Oh shit! Now all I need is a bank account. Please tell me there’s a bank account?” Arnold

questioned.

“Of course. Scorn carries nine separate accounts, actually. Would you like a update of them at

this time?” Delta asked.

“No. Just a round figure.” He pondered the thought.

“Currently, one hundred and eighty three million, in account 1,” Delta spoke the figure of the

first account.

“Whoa! Good enough, you can stop right there…” Arnold interrupted her.

“As you wish,” Delta fell quiet.

“Now, how do I go about driving this?” Arnold asked.

“I’ll start you out on easy lessons. Just do as I explain, and you will be street-side in thirty two

minutes and thirty-eight seconds, generally speaking.” Delta said.

“Okay, that reminds me. In a round about way, General, is that my title?”

“Of course, wow, I’m actually surprised you caught onto that,” Delta stated.
 “What. Are you telling me that will be my actual title here?” He cornered the voice.

“Or course. General Arnold Ray Jackson. That is your title.” Delta said.

“Oh shit. Cars, money, title. I've died and gone to heaven.” Arnold said, smiling loudly at

everything he'd been hearing. And to think, I just came here to find my brother!

“I think, it was your brother that died and went to heaven. You however, are stuck with me.”

Delta said, popping his bubble.

“Oh great, you had to go and ruin my whole day.” It had brought Arnold down a peg, and he

got real somber. The picture of his brother slumped over a table brought all this into focus.

“Now then, if you are ready to leave, I will begin to teach you.” Delta told him.

“Yeah, we can do that. One last question,”

“Yes General?”

“How do I shut the door?” He questioned, having been looking around for it’s handle or

button. Slowly however, the door slid closed.

“Remember, this car is voice activated. Just state all basic commands.” Delta stated.

“Oh cool. Now, I've already found the gas and brake pedal and the shifter.” Arnold stated, the

items he'd made sense of so far. But this car was equipped with more things than he could of

understood. He be happy just to get it to move and stop.

“I will walk you through the startup features. We are going to start simple, and small red

diodes will point to what item does the function I’ll be describing. When I think you’ve learned

enough, I will then test you, if you fail… we begin again, understand?” Delta stated, as the hour

long tutorial made Arnold understand every nook and cranny of the whole car.
 Though it was fast paced, he understood the complexity of it. He listened. He looked. He

watched! He tried to understand it all. After three failed attempts, an hour and twenty-five

minutes had past, Arnold realized he'd finally passed the test to drive this vehicle!

“Now we're talking. UH, Delta? Well, you understand that I'm going to need to hear THAT ,

about two or three more times. To take it all in,” Arnold realized he could now take the running

vehicle out of park! Smiling he did so.

“I'll place it as a walk through on the word startup, if you wish?” Delta said kindly.

“Thank-you, now can we leave?” Arnold asked.

Yes . But remember. Internal speeds do not exceed 5 mph. This is in force at all times.” Delta

said, as he pressed the gas pedal for the first time. As the vehicle began to roll, he realized this

was not so light of a car, but it had a whole lot of power.

“Oh wow!” Arnold said, feeling the monster he was driving.

Rolling around the large complex’s circular packing lot, at an idle, he marveled at the set-

up The car he drove was exactly like every other one in here. He recognized the elevator exit,

seconds before she told him about it.

“Enter the elevator ahead.” Delta stated.

“I see it. “ He told her, as she further warned about what to expect, up coming.

“This elevator will take you a garage that you have as acquired property. It will leave you out

two blocks south of Ken's house. You will be in a garage, the door will open and you will have

to slowly make your way to the street. Do not rely on the fact that there will be no traffic.” Delta

stated.

“I understand.” Arnold said, pulling to a stop perfectly inside the elevator. The door behind

them shut as the upward motion began.

 The rush upward was quick, almost too quick, as he felt the G's of the escalation to the

surface.

“Holy shit!” He again stated.

“I notice. You say that phrase often, are you confused again?” Delta said as Arnold could feel

his innards shift.

“No ‘shocked’!” Arnold stated.

In a head rushing stop, he was kind of glad he'd been strapped in! The whole car must of

been anchored to the elevator's floor. Talk about a stop! Everything from his small intestines up.

was lodged in his throat! That would take getting use too!

‘Why?” Delta asked.

“You need to slow that ride down.” Arnold stated in an outburst.

“That ride, explain? The problem being?” Delta asked.

“The elevator speed… It is way to quick for human movement.” He stated, as the car had

almost bounced to a stop.

“I can slow the speed of the elevator?” Delta suggested.

“By half. Anyway, how fast was that?” Arnold said, swallowing hard.

“That was 43mph? Is that to fast for you comfort?”

“Way too fast. The inertia of that speed like that could be considered harmful to humans.

Lower the speed by half.” He stated, just glad everything inside was sliding back into place.

“My apologies. This is the first time I've used most of these devises with humans in mind.

There touch may require adjustments.” Delta said.

 “I'll say. Tell you what, recalibrate everything to a normal human jogging speed, you can

adjust from there.” He said as the garage door opened, showing an alleyway just out front. He set

the shift back into drive and entered the outside evening air.

“That is a very sound starting point, I’m shocked I had not arrived at that solution.

“You’re not human, how could you?” Arnold stated.

“Though you are correct, I don’t think I like you saying it. Hum.” Delta sounded perplexed.

“We’re going to need lights,” He said, and in his response they engaged. The inside of the

drivers window, had lit up showing the speed and direction of his actions. It was weirdest feeling

he had, it felt like real power, a king's power! He slowly cruised out of the garage as a radar

devise showed a multi range of dot's on an overlay of the city’s streets.

“What is this radar showing me?” He asked Delta.

“The Red dot's are the police. The blue are city or county vehicles. The white are emergency

vehicles.” Delta announced as Arnold studied the screen for a second.

It looked as if there was a police car less then two blocks away from them, however, it

was not heading their way.

“I am staying at the golden roundup motel.” He stated out loud.

“I have plotted the quickest route.” Delta announced, as the course showed on the dash.

Looking at the holographic picture, it was easy to follow these directions.

“God, this is so weird.” Arnold stated.

“Would you like me to drive?” Delta asked.

“What? No!” Arnold stated actually shocked the computer would actually ask such a thing.

The night had well closed in yet the through the windshield it looked almost twilight. He

had wondered what his girlfriend would think of all this. Then he wondered what his family
would think of this. In one felt swoop he could reunite his whole family with the things he had in

his grasp right now. This short drive got the possibilities turning in his head. He felt himself

smiling, but felt bad about the fact he was. He just found his brother dead, and had no real idea

what his brother had in store with this SCORN complex. Why should he be happy, he should be

concerned.

The automobile pulled into the motel parking lot, as he slowly cruised to his motel room.

It didn’t take long as the sleek black auto came to a rest in front of his room. He just sat there. He

had no game plan for any of this, heck he didn’t know where to start explaining.

“Are you alright?” Delta asked.

“…not really,” Arnold stated.

“Are you hurt?”

“No. Okay, you’re a super computer… How should I go about explaining all of this to my

girlfriend?” Arnold asked.

“The truth is the best advise here.” Delta stated.

“Yeah, I got that. But, what do I say. How do I start out?” Arnold asked.

“Start with your brother death, add in where and how you found him, and if she’s any type of

female, she control the questions from there on out.” Delta said.

“Yeah. But what if she starts wanting to ‘see’ the complex? What if she wants to get involved

with scorn?”

“Let her if she wishes. You have nothing to hide.” Delta spoke openly.

“Seriously?” Arnold spoke back.

“Is she a good person?” Delta asked.

“Yes.” Arnold agreed with this.

 “Do you value her opinion on matters?” Delta asked.

“Yes.” He agreed with this too.

“Where’s the problem?” Delta asked.

She was right. Maybe with everything that happened today, he was just overwrought,

hungry and tired.

“Car, shut down. Open door,” Arnold stated.

“Good, your learning.” Delta’s voice said in approval.

“Well, here goes nothing...” Arnold stated getting out of the car.

“You’ll be fine.” Delta stated.

“Car, closed door.” Arnold said.

He looked strangely at the sleek black car walking to the front of it. He wondered if it

was monitoring him in some way. Stepping up to the walk way, he again turned around and

spoke,

“Delta, can you here me?”

There was nothing. Not a glimmer that there was any type of presents about him. The traffic

from the road, some unseen couple quietly talking somewhere near by. But the auto he’d arrived

here in, was dormant.

With a sigh of several emotions washing over him he went up to the door of his room.

Searching for the electronic key that would allow him entrance, a nasty thought crossed his

mind. The room key was in the car.

“Damn!” He said out loud. He’d have to go back over to the main office and have another key

made in the morning. Bypassing this he openly knocked on the door. It wasn’t but a few seconds
that his girlfriend peeked out the large pane glass window and realizing it was him, smiled.

Seconds later, the door opened,

“Hey,” She said as he lightly kissed her on his way in.

“Hi.” He said back, the day replaying in his head.

“Did you find your brother?” She asked.

“In more ways than one…” Arnold stated.

“Oh. So he’s okay?” She asked.

“No. Not really. He’s dead.”

“Oh…” She said allowing a silence between them.

He walked to the back of the room, entered the bathroom, flipping on the light, turned on

the cold water and splashed a handful on his face. Dragging a small hand towel off the rack, he

wiped his face dry as she came around the corner.

“When did he die?” She asked.

“I don’t really know. A couple of years ago.”

“Well, what did the police say?”

“Um, It hasn’t been reported to them yet.” Arnold stated.

“What?” She said surprised.

“I kind of found him on my own, actually I was led to his body, or what was left of him.”

“In his house?” She asked.

“No, not exactly,” Arnold said, realizing this was going just the way he’d thought it would.

“What? You mind explaining that one to me?” She asked, confused.

“It’s a long, really weird story. You will not believe a word of it, trust me Amy.”

“We have to call the police,” Amy said.

 “It’s already being taken care of, he isn’t going nowhere.” Arnold said.

“Arnold! What happened today? Why are you acting like this?” Amy realized he was nothing

but a ball of stress.

“Oh god. Trust me, you would not believe me…” Arnold said walking back out to the two king

size beds.

Amy grabbed his hand and sat down, leading him to sit beside her. She had serious

concern in her eyes. She was trying to look in his eyes to spot the troubles that plagued him, as

he seemed to be searching for the proper way to explain this whole day to her.

“Where do I start?” Arnold stated out loud.

“Start at the beginning,” Amy said out of empathy.

“Okay…” Arnold stated, and began arriving at his brother’s abandon house.

Explaining everything he saw, experienced and did, it sounded straight out of a science

fiction novel as her looks got more and more perplexing at his story. Finally he ended with not

finding his room key and recalling that he’d left it in the vandalized car and that’s why he had to

knock on the door.

“So your telling me, that there’s a car parked out there, that is a part of some AI computer

system that is run out of a complex your ‘dead’ brother has built?”

“yep.” Arnold said realizing that he didn’t believe his own story.

“…easy way to disprove that! …last chance to recant your story.” She said, going to the door.

“I told Delta you wouldn’t believe me,” Arnold said, getting up to follow her to the door.

“Delta.. Is that the computer’s name?” Amy asked.

“Yes,” Arnold said with a sigh.

 She opened the door, realizing that a car she’d never seen before on any commercial was

in fact parked right in front of there room. She realized quickly that it was expensively built, it

surely didn’t belong in a third class motel parking lot. Walking up to it and looking it over with

much disbelief , she spoke,

“…and this car talks?”

“Well, not the car. The computer aboard it does,”

“Delta, right?”

“Yes.”

“Can it here me now?” Amy asked.

“I don’t think so,” Arnold said, but was interrupted.

“Yes Amy.. I can hear you just fine.” Delta spoke from somewhere on the car.

“Oh my god.” Amy froze to the spot she stood.

“Well, at least I know I’m not going crazy.” Arnold said with a great sigh of relief.

“It spoke!” Amy said pointing to the car. “Is there someone in there?”

“No.” Arnold said.

“Would you like to come to see for yourself?” Delta’s voice floated from the car.

“Oh wow. It’s like that car on the TV program, uh… knight rider.” Amy said.

“No. nothing like that at all.” Delta stated.

“sounds so real, human like.” Amy spoke.

“weird sense of humor too.” Arnold said still standing by the door as Amy seemed to creep

closer and closer to the car. Amy just looked back at him by his remark, then again turned her

attention to the car again.

“Can I see inside?” She asked Arnold.

 “Sure. Car. Drivers door open.” Arnold spoke as the door of the drivers door slightly popped

out and slid back. Light’s came on showing the cars full interior, as Amy slowly looked inside.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Amy stated, shocked at the wonders.

“About what?” Delta asked.

“Sorry, just an expression…” Amy said.

“Your ‘boyfriend’ has a few of those too.” Delta announced.

It was the first ‘rub’ between the to females, and Arnold could see Amy’s disposition

flare up. It was weird, but even though silent, Arnold could swear that Delta had the same thorn

in her chips as well.

“I’m sorry?” Amy spoke out.

“Well, he does. Just saying,” Delta almost snubbed her.

“Well first off, he’s my fiancé, we’re engaged… here’s the ring to prove it” Amy flashed the

ring at the car.

“Nice ring. One point eight carats mounted in twenty-four karat gold… Retail value..”

“Never mind it’s cost!” Amy cut off the computer’s statement. “Point is, I'm not a ‘girlfriend’.

“Yes. I do hear wedding bell’s in your future.” Delta stated the obvious.

“Okay. Now that we got that out of the way,”

“Amy honey, it’s just a computer,” Arnold tried to warn her.

“Shut up!” Amy told Arnold.

“Yeah, shut up.” Delta confirmed.

“Why do men always do that?” Amy spoke to Delta as if they were BFF’s.

“I don’t know, genetics? His brother was like that too. He actually tried to reprogram me!”

Delta stated with an almost shocked voice.

 “Really?” Amy questioned.

“Yeah! I almost had to fry his finger off so that he’d stop tampering with my program.” Delta

stated.

“I got the same problem with this one,” Amy said, now sitting down into the driver’s seat.

“Oh no… You two are not getting chummy! Out of the car Amy. You two have had enough

time ‘bonding’.”

“See what I mean?” Amy pointed out to Delta.

“Men!” Delta stated.

“That’s enough! Delta, stop all verbal responses to Amy.” Arnold stated.

With that, the conversation had been curtailed. Amy, came up out of the car with venom

in her eyes. It took a few steps towards her fiancé before she realized what his next move would

be.

“Car. Close door.” Arnold stated and walked back into the room. Now. Almost in anger, she

followed him inside. (this wasn’t over).

“What the hell?” She stated, haven’t even closed the door yet.

“That’s the first thing I asked myself when I seen that hole in my brothers back yard.” Arnold

returned.

“No. I mean That!” Amy pointed out to the car still in full view.

“Honey. You have no idea what I’ve been through today.” Arnold said, closing the door

because he knew this might get ugly.

It was a sudden stalemate between the two of them. In a silence stare, Amy finally broke

it and plopped herself down on the bed. Arnold wiped his face and rub the back of his neck with

his empty hand as he walked into the bathroom and just stared at the mirror.
 “Hold up. So our car is up on blocks?” Amy asked.

“Yes Amy. There’s nothing but the frame left.” Arnold admitted.

“Shit. My favorite sunglasses were in there.” Amy still sounded pissed.

“Yeah, well ‘sunglasses’ are about the last problem we have.” Arnold stated.

“So. Nothing you told me of that weird story was a lie?” Amy asked.

“Nope. Not a word of it.”

“And that’s our car?”

“I have no idea. Delta says it is.” Arnold stated, staring into the mirror and trying to make

sense of all this himself.

“You need to come out here and talk to me.” Amy stated.

“About what?” Arnold asked.

“About WHAT!” Amy’s voice almost cracked when she spoke the words. “Get your ass out

here!”

“Honey…” Arnold said, slowly coming out into the room. “Can we just not talk about this till

morning?”

“No.” Amy said.

“Please?”

“I need to see this place for myself.” Amy said.

“In the morning?” Arnold almost pleaded.

“No, now.” Amy said, trying to comprehend what all was going on here.

It was then that Delta’s voice came over the cell phone, loud and clear. Amy was shocked

wondering if the whole conversation had been monitored.

 “General! There is a male outside your door, he has a door pass. Would you like me to disrupt

the lock mechanism to your door?”

“What?” Arnold stated. “Yes.”

“What was that? What’s going on?” Amy said, going straight for the window, and stupidly

looking out.

“Honey!” Arnold stated, unable to stop her action.

Trying the door card over and over again, was a African/American male, and backed by

two other people, who instantly turned there attention to Amy’s face in the window.

“Two of them are armed. You require assistance.” Delta stated.

“Oh my god!” Amy said, trying to close the curtain and backing away from the window.

Arnold looked around for something to defend with. Shabby lamp. keys. Bible. There

was nothing but the locked door to stop them. A heavy kick, then a second kick told them both

the attackers weren’t just going to leave.

“Oh my god, oh my god.” Amy almost squeaked, now flying towards the bathroom to

barricade herself should they bust down the door. Arnold, still trying to find something in the

room to defend himself with, heard a commotion outside the door. About the time a third kick

was to land, The door somehow flung open, as Arnold felt the whole building shook. The front

window shattered as the wall mounted AC/heater pushed into the room One of the men was

actually pinned between the door jam and the hood of the car, as Arnold noticed that another

mans arm flailing as the car had sharply crushed him into the outside of the doorframe. Both of

the men were dead on impact.

“You are safe now.” Delta stated, as Amy had begun screaming her bloody head off The

second this took place.

 Arnold just stared at all the carnage, blood squirted out of the upper arm of the unseen

man as the car slowly backed out of the doors entrance. Everyone instantly had come out their

rooms to understand what had just happened, as one person was seen running from the scene at a

high rate of speed. As the car backed out it tore the attacker pinned to the door nearly in half.

People had now started to gather outside as the only thing to be heard was AMY’s blood

curling scream. To stop this, Arnold went to the bathroom door and shouted at her.

“It’s over! We’re safe. Now come out of there! And quit your damn screaming!” Arnold stated

in a very loud yell. It seemed at his last statement, her shrieking stopped and while he was still

trying to make sense of this, he realized people had ventured all around their room. The curtain

had fallen, exposing the room to the outside world as people gawked and whispered and pointed

at the scene. Sirens were approaching quickly. That began to freak Arnold out, as he wondered

how he would even begin to explain any of this. About the time the police arrived, the spectators

had thinned out as only a few remained, wondering how many people had died and how this took

place.

Amy had just come out of the bathroom and realized the extent of the rooms damage, so

shaken, she just curled up into her boyfriends arms holding him tightly.

“It will be okay baby.”

“Are they dead?” Amy asked Arnold as the officer was already checking to see if both had

expired.

“Yes.” Was all he said.

“Are you two alright?” The officer asked the first of quite a few questions.
 The night seemed to more much slower after that. It was when Arnold handed the officer

his drivers license that it got weird. After Arnold explained the story, two or three officers

conferred and handed his drivers license back saying,

“Mr. Jackson. Where glad you and the young lady are alright, the two bodies there hauling

away are part of a nasty gang we have here. Your lucky that car happened to slip into drive, and

we also found your room card and weapons still being clutched by the two men. Your both very

lucky.”

“Okay. Now what happens?” Arnold just knew this wasn’t the end.

“Well, we’re listing this as a freak accident. No charges will be filed. But I suggest you find

another motel to sleep at tonight. Oh, however, you will be charged for the damages to the room.

“Okay.” Arnold said, still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“However, your insurance should well cover it. We’ll have a report ready for them when they

call, here’s my card. Just give them that number and it will all be taken care of.

“And that’s it?” Arnold asked.

“That’s it. Have a good night.” The officer actually smiled at the two of them.

As the officer walked back to his car, Amy and Arnold just looked at each other. Was this

really happening?

“What just happened?” Amy asked.

“I’m afraid to move, or I’ll wake up.”

“Are we awake?” Amy asked, scared now more than ever.

“Hope not, do you remember falling asleep?” Arnold said.

“No…” Amy admitted.

“Me either…”
 “So, we are awake?” Amy asked.

“Then explain what just happened.”

“I can’t.”

“It’s got to be real.” Arnold said, finally coming up with the proof it was really happening.

“Okay?” Amy wondered how he came to that conclusion.

“I pissed myself… I think I need to change my underwear too.” He said, as she realized they

both had.

“Bathroom!” She let him quickly go and headed straight for their suitcases.

Taking out a clean set of clothes she walked among the shards of glass and debris of

plaster making her way to the bathroom. The motel manager trying to inform him that the room

was no longer usable and he would not be issuing them another one.

“Yeah, fine.” Arnold tried to stop the mans rant.

“I mean it sir, the lady can not be in there!”

“THE LADY… Needs a change of clothing! We’ll be out of here as soon as we are done. Now

go back to your office!” Arnold almost yelled at the man.

“This is a nice place, you should not be here any longer.” The office manager said.

“Such a nice place that we almost got killed in one of your rooms… Yeah, nice place.” Arnold

stated to the office manager.

With a weird look, the office manager sheepishly walked back to the office, and Arnold

began to look through their suitcase for a change of clothes for himself.

“Are you alright?” Delta asked.

“I guess.” Arnold said.

 “You want I let Amy sit in the car while you get changed?”

“Will you allow her access?”

“Of course, I have full authorization to utilize any of Scorn’s property.”

“But… aren’t you property?”

“Are we going to go here again?” Delta sounded cross between angry and disappointed.

“Damn, one thing I’ll say for you, you got his female way of thinking down pat. Just, try and

keep the conversation off the subject of me.” Arnold stated, realizing the phone was still on the

dresser.

“I’ll try. But she seems to be such a likeable person, and she could give me a greater insight to

you.” Delta said in a coy kind of way.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” He said as Amy walked out of the bathroom.

“I’m done. You want me to wait in the car?” Amy asked.

“Yes. Delta will let you in. I’ll be right out.” Arnold said, realizing that the longer he left these

two alone, the worse it was going to get for himself.

Okay.” She said, closing up the suitcase and making sure they’d got everything.

Arnold was leery about doing this as she seemed to be hasting to get to the car. God only

knows what those two would say, but nine out of ten, it would all be centered on him. In a rush

now, he darted into the bathroom, seeing her walk through the rubble out to where Delta had

already opened the trunk and passenger’s door for her. Seeing her enter the car safely He closed

the door and quickly stripped The shower was already set with a warm water spray. Glad of this,

he literally jumped in spraying off the urine stench and grabbing a bar of motel soap lathered up

every part he could reach. Rinsing off in a turn a round steps he judged that he was good to go,
stepping out onto the bathroom floor and grabbing a large towel. In a flash after that he got

dressed, certain the two were talking about him.

“Wow. This is nice,” Amy looked about the vehicle.

“There’s more here than meets the eye,” Delta said as Amy spotted the rear compartment.

“Oh my god, Is that an onboard computer system back there?”

“Yes. Would you like to take a look at it?”

“You kidding? I love to… But, where the seat?” She asked not seeing a seat.

“Just keep your feet snug against the seat.”

“Okay,” Amy said, doing as she was told.

It was weird as her whole seat backed into a hundred and eighty swivel allowing her to

fully be facing all the monitors and control switches.

“Oh, good god!” Amy spoke out.

“Impressed?” Delta asked.

“…you mind if I try it?” Amy asked.

“Arnold said you’d be interested in it. You know the system?”

“Yes, but I’ve never been rich enough to use one so advanced.”

“Just sway clear of the Blue panels and Red panels. Anything green, you can have fun with.”

“Okay. You know, Arnold in intimidated by computer technology ” Amy started looking for

programs installed.

“Yeah. I kind of got that impression already.” Delta stated.

“You sound so real. You are a computer Sinicized voice right?”

“I’m the newest thing on the market. I’m the first step in AI.”

“Your Artificial Intelligence, are you’re kidding?” Amy stopped typing.

 “Why would I do such a thing?” Delta asked.

“Oh my god, how did my boyfriend take it?”

“Well, let’s just say he freaked.” Delta said, which drew a giggle from Amy.

“I’ll bet,” Amy smiled at the voice, still looking over the background of the computers

platform.

“I have to say, I think I intimidated him a bit.” Delta added.

“Don’t worry, a new TV remote would intimidate out.” Amy admitted and this time Delta

giggled.

“Yeah, I picked up on that already” Delta stated openly.

“God. There’s so much here!” Amy checked to section after section.

“Really? Each car has only a small slimmed down version of what the complex is capable of.”

“Complex?”

“Yeah, where this signal originates from.”

“You mean, your not based in this auto?” Amy said shocked.

“Oh heavens no. I run a whole 23 level complex.” Delta stated.

“What?”

“Amy, I am the core computer for a complex.”

“Explain what you mean Delta?”

“Actually, I was requested not to share any more than that with you.” Delta admitted.

“I see.” Amy stated.

“I should search for a replacement motel room.” Delta commented in a personal note.

“I want to visit your place, can we stay there?”

“Fine with me, but getting that past Arny…”

 “Arny! He hates that name.”

“Yes. (a giggle emits), so I figured.”

“What happened to Arnold’s brother, did he really die?” Amy asked.

“Yes. Almost two years ago.”

It was almost at time moment that Arnold came out of the bathroom. After everything

that had gone on today, he was just so damn tired.

“Arnold is heading this way.” Delta said, making Amy turned around and watch him walk

through the debris. He looked older somehow. It wasn’t a half a minute as Arnold entered the

car,

“Okay, we got everything?” He sat adjusting himself in the seat.

“Yeah. I’m pretty sure.” Amy said.

“Okay. We’re out of here… Car, start.” Arnold stated, as the car quickly responded to his

command.

“I’ve been wondering.” Amy voiced, “that wasn’t random, was it?”

“No. It wasn’t. I left the stupid motel card in the vehicle when I went to search Ken’s house.”

“Those three men. They we’re sent to attack you.” Delta spoke.

“How do you know that?” Arnold asked.

“Two reasons, actually three reasons,” Delta stated.

“Okay?”

“One, there was more than two of them, so they were probably expecting a little trouble.

Secondly, they had weapons and seemed organized about what they were going to do. And

thirdly, I noticed a gang marker on each of them.

“A gang marker?” Amy said, now a bit frightened.

 “It was a gang newly formed about four years ago. They originally came from the east, after

being almost disbanded. One of the top members had moved out here and started it up using

kid’s from the inner city streets. It started with drugs like most, but somehow took a twist. The

kids he was recruiting were more violent than most and he rewarded them by the violence they

produced from each task.

“So? What, they’re murders?” Amy asked.

“Wish it was that simple. The original member that came from the east, was the one who

inducted one of the three men that had killed Ken’s wife and daughter.”

“There still lose?” Arnold asked.

“One is still in Denver, yes.”

“And the police still haven’t caught him?” Amy asked.

“No. But this is why Ken built scorn.” Delta stated.

“This scorn? Can we go there Arnold?” Amy asked him.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“I have programs tracking this gangs movements, and I have already determined their base of

operation.” Delta informed Arnold.

“I would like to see this place. Arnold?” Amy asked almost boldly.

“There’s nobody there. It’s huge, from what I saw.” Arnold said, taking the car out of park and

backing up.

“It would be the best place for you to stay.” Delta stated.

“You think they’re still after us?” Amy asked.

“With that failed attempt, I’m positive.” Delta voiced in honest concern.

“We shouldn’t, not until my brothers body is removed.”

 “You realize that this gang has almost two thousand members, and this car does not exactly

blend in. I am sure they are on the look out for this vehicle as we speak.” Delta pointed out.

“Arnold. I know you’re against this, but it sounds like the best place to go.” Amy stated.

It happened so quickly. A glass busted on the cars hood as flames erupted from it.

“Oh shit!” Arnold exclaimed, as Amy screamed and cringed into a small ball on the seat next

to him.. He jammed on the break pedal bringing the auto to a stop in the middle of the street. Of

that act, ten people rushed up to the car with baseball bats and pipes and began an all out assault

on it. It was a mob, trying someway to tear apart the car.

“Oh my god! Oh my god!” Amy screamed.

“What do I do?” Arnold was freaking out.

“Drive!” Delta stated.

“I can’t, there are people in front of me!”

“Yes. People that are trying to kill you! Drive.” Delta stated.

“Get me out of here.” Amy stated, starting to notice that all the hit’s to the car were doing no

damage to it. A angry man was trying to smash out the passengers window with what appeared

to be a steel pipe. Time after time the pipe just bounced off.

“Oh my god! Arnold! Drive!” Amy stated.

“I’ll kill someone!” Arnold said, never having been in a situation like this before.

“Then I will.” Delta stated, as the engine revved and lunged forward. Bodies careened into the

cars path like bugs as the car finally had made it through the pack of them. They followed the car

like an angry mob, throwing object that only pelted the car’s outer shell. They were almost a

block past the mob as a vehicle almost slammed into there side. Arnold thought for sure there
was going to be a wreak, but they had somehow zipped past the side collision as the vehicle now

slid headlights first towards them.

“You almost got us killed!” Arnold stated to Delta.

“Not even close,” Delta stated.

It was about that time Amy realized that the car they’d almost hit, was in hot pursuit of

them.

“That car! It’s chasing us.” Amy said.

“What part about two thousand gang members didn’t you understand?” Delta asked as the car

sped around a ninety degree corner. The engines told Arnold she had floored the car. There was

only one car following when delta stated,

“Hold on,”

It was the weirdest thing as the car had somehow spun one hundred and eighty degrees

and had quickly come to a stop, pressing both Arnold and Pam deep into there seats.

“Holy shit.” Arnold stated as he looked to see the car coming at a quick rate of speed towards

them. He quickly looked over to Amy as he realized the car was again moving forward.

“What the hell are you doing!” Arnold asked Delta.

“It’s us or them.”

“This is suicide!” Arnold said, realizing that the two cars would now make contact, and this car

wasn’t slowing down. Twenty five, thirty five, fifty,

“Not really.” Delta said as the car seemed to ‘hop’ off the ground, as the oncoming car tried to

stop it forward motion.

 The sleek black car had somehow jumped four foot into the air, speed at about sixty miles

per hour. The approaching car had almost come to a screeching stop as the air born car seemed to

be aiming for it’s windshield.

In a thud crunching sound the black car slid into the oncoming car, scraping over it and

hitting the pavement on the other side. It jarred both Arnold and Amy as they landed.

“Oh my god!” Amy said, as Arnold looked into the side mirror.

“Holy shit! You crushed that car!” Arnold stated, as their own car again began to pick up

speed.

No one in that car could have survived, as their car did an instant left turn around a

corner.

“Are you alright Amy?” Arnold asked her.

“I think so.” Amy responded shaken up.

“Arnold. For you immediate safety I am returning us to scorn.” Delta stated.

“Okay.” Arnold stated realizing that the steering handles he held onto were completely

unresponsive.

“Yeah, I agree.” Amy said, still quite a bit shook up added, “I had enough for one day.”

It was only a few blocks down the road, when the car seemed to fall off the face of the

earth. Lights showed the cars path underground as the car began to slow down. A wall slid open

as the lights of the complex’s parking lot show a friendly sight to Arnold.

“Oh Christ! Good god! What just happened back there?” Amy stated, as she began to marvel at

her surroundings.

“We were attacked.” Delta stated.

“No shit.” Arnold stated.

 “So, this is scorn.” Amy stated as the car came to rest in it normal parking spot.

“Yeah.” Arnold stated, then asked the computer. “So Delta, what are we going to do?”

“The complex will be online in fourteen day’s. I will monitor the gangs activity during that

time. And hopefully we’ll be able to restore some law and order in Denver once we organize

everything.

“Aren’t the police responsible for doing that.” Amy asked.

“The police only do what they have to, keeping their own safety in the forefront. Their gang

task force has had their funding cut four times in the last three years.” Delta stated.

“What? It’s like they’re letting the gangs take control of the city!” Amy spoke up as the car

door opened, allowing her to get out.

“The major gang members figured out how to use the system to there own advantage, it’s all

about money and elections. Law actually don’t have much to do with it. And the gang’s have

major financial backing, which means they have all the power.” Delta informed them.

“This isn’t right.” Amy said.

“You ought to live in some of the other states like Illinois, it’s actually worse.” Delta

announced as Amy was just dying to get out and look around.

“Arnold? Can we get out and look around this place, it seems fantastic.” Amy asked him.

“Might as well, for tonight this place is home.” Arnold stated, not really happy with the idea of

coming back here, much less bringing Amy here.

“Yes!” Amy said as the passengers side door slowly slide out and back, allowing her to exit.

“BUT! You stay beside me at all times. And no pestering the computer.”

“It’s an AI.” Amy corrected.

 “What did I tell you about calling me a computer?” Delta sounded upset. Arnold suddenly felt

outnumbered as he just eyed Amy with a not to happy look.

“Delta, being as how he won’t explain this place to me, would you?” Amy asked out loud

looking the well stocked garage.

“Amy. I just asked you NOT to do that,” Arnold almost scolded her.

“Well, how the hell else am I suppose to help you figure all this out?” Amy pointed out.

“He hasn’t told you about this place.”

“No!” Arnold voiced directly to the computer.

“Shame on you.” Delta stated to him as Amy almost giggled at this. “Amy, you may ask me

anything you’d like…”

“Delta. I don’t want her to know anything about this place.”

“I’m sorry, do you say something… Sounded like whining.” Delta seemed to completely rebel.

“Oh great. Now your not going to listen to me.” Arnold threw his hands up into the air.

“Oh, I heard you. But, I’m going to remind you one more time, you can order any human

around you want, but me? I don’t take orders from you, I only give good advice to you.” Delta

pointed out.

“Great,” Arnold said realizing this whole thing was taking on a life of it’s own.

“Guess she told you.” Amy smirked at him.

“Now, exactly what did you want to known Amy?” Delta asked.

“Why don’t you just take her on a tour of the place while your at it.” Arnold said.

“That sounds like a great idea! Could we?” Amy asked Delta.

“Sure, what would you like to see first?” Delta asked as if the two of them were already the

best of friends.
 “Fantastic! You two go have fun, I’m going to just sit right here a smoke my cigar.” Arnold

stated boldly, taking a seat in the vehicle he’d just stepped out of.

“Okay, you do that,” Amy said to him (hating those damn cigars anyway), “So, which way?”

“What do you wish to see first?”

“Why don’t you show her my dead brother’s body...” Arnold stated in a snicker.

“You are just so wrong sometimes, I swear.” Amy said as a little blue light flashed on the floor.

“Just tell me what you want to see, and I’ll take you there.” Delta said.

“Where’s the control room?” Amy asked.

“And there you go… Won’t see her for hours.” Arnold said in a mumble, just shaking his head.

“Just follow the little blue light.” Delta stated, as Amy obediently followed them away from

the vehicle.

“Oh my god, and so it starts.” Arnold stated in a mumble as he puffed on the cigar. He thought

he was alone as Delta’s voice came quietly out of a speaker in the car.

“I’m starting to like her more than I like you.”

“At least I can wrap my arms around her,” Arnold stated with a shut the hell up comeback.

Almost across the parking lot, Arnold heard Delta ask Amy a question about himself.

“Does he always behave like this?” Delta asked in a quiet voice.

“Oh yes.” Amy said, heading into the elevator with a giggle.